WSO, I need your help: How do I get this PE job?

Hi

I will start studying banking & finance in Zurich this fall, which means I have no experience in Private Equity besides having read Barbarians at the Gate and King of Capital. I love both of these books and am VERY eager to get into Private Equity. Two days ago, LGT Partners, a PE / Asset management firm in Switzerland posted that they are looking for young students to support them in their Private Equity department.

Read more here:
http://www.jobs.ch/en/vacancies/detail/7520740/?s…

Have a thorough look at the requirements. Although I do fulfill them more or less, there will be many applicants who are far more qualified as of now (they have been studying for a while etc...). However, I'm young and very enthusiastic. This alone doesn't get me very far, but coupled with me learning fast and giving my best to operate to the benefit of the firm, I am 100% confident that I can catch up and surpass the other applicants swiftly.

Now, how do I convince the recruitement lady of this? My plan is to prepare an application, but it will be a bit different, basically a one page text where I outline how the firm can profit from me and that I am the number one choice in the long run. I will search and find her somewhere in their headquarter and simply hand it to her and talk with her. I might be crazy, but this needs to be an all in, ballsy move that seperates me from the other applicants who are currently superior on paper. I will start preparing the required skills asap with Shkreli's finance videos.

What advice can you give to an up-and-coming monkey (me) that will increase my chances of getting this job, regarding:
- The one page "application"
- What skills I need to train for said job
- How to approach the recruitement lady

Thank you very much for your help!

 
Best Response

I know that this doesn't answer your question, but please read the job description again. This is NOT a private equity front office role where you analyze deals. This is a support function which would most likely fall into the middle office category.

I just wanted to add one thing to your idea of the "ballsy" move of making a surprise visit at the HQ (despite the fact that you probably won't get past the receptionist). I would steer away from it because it might come off as creepy. There was a discussion about this on the forum not too long ago but I wasn't able to find it right now. The consensus was that the downside is a lot higher than the potential upside.

 

Thank you for pointing out both things. Here is my improved procedure:

  • Apply online (ordinary way) but with said one page document where I outline how the firm can profit from me
  • Call the responsible recruiting person in two days and say that I am very eager to work for the firm and that I'd like to meet her briefly

What would you change / improve?

 

I would take an unpaid advisory job at a boutique investment bank or even the ones that you have to paid for it like Analyst Exchange program. I think this will be such a waste of time. Try to look up "New York School of Finance" or "Investment Banking Institute" for their short course (6 weeks program). From this internship, you won't learn anything about private equity at all.

 

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